A new epic fantasy by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around— and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.

Am I the only one here who wishes they could spend a day in Laini Taylor’s mind? She creates such gorgeous and vivid imagery with her words, and the ideas that spring forth are so exquisite. But for now, I guess we’ll have to settle for her amazing books and Pinterest boards.

I share this post with you today, with a fair word of warning. You are going to NEED this book in your life when I am done here. Honestly, chances are you’ve already pre-ordered “Strange the Dreamer” because Laini Taylor is a literary goddess and you must have all her words. But, if this one inexplicably isn’t on your radar yet, keep reading for all of the reasons it should be.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

-a space where I share my thoughts and feelings on upcoming and recent book releases –

I found myself reading and rereading so many passages in this book. I couldn’t get over the beauty of Laini Taylor’s writing and her ability to build a world that totally drew me in. I guarantee you’ll feel like you stepped through the pages of this book and into the fantasy of this unbelievable and epic story.

Karou & Brimstone by Calivel – click for source

Before I dive into my review for Daughter of Smoke & Bone, can we just talk about the Fan Art above? I discovered it on Pinterest (while obsessively scouring the internet for all things Laini Taylor) and traced the image back to a user on Deviant Art by the name of Calivel. It’s amazing right? Total perfection! It’s always so fascinating to see other people’s interpretations of a book and this one just hit the nail on the head for me. If you’re looking for another piece of fan art you should check out this masterful interpretation of Akiva and Madrigal’s first meeting…! Warning: image is spoilerific!!

“She craved a presence beside her, solid. Fingertips light at the nape of her neck and a voice meeting hers in the dark. Someone who would wait with an umbrella to walk her home in the rain, and smile like sunshine when he saw her coming. Who would dance with her on her balcony, keep his promises and know her secrets, and make a tiny world wherever he was, with just her and his arms and his whisper and her trust.” ― Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone

There are passages in this book, like the one above, that I would gladly crawl into and live there forever. Laini Taylor has a way of weaving her words and painting a picture on each page that makes you feel as though you are there. Whether you’re part of a gathered crown on Charles Bridge in Prague, winding your way through the dark alleyways of Morocco, or rejoicing with the crowds as they celebrate on their way to an other-worldly ball. Just a few pages into this book and you’ll find yourself completely engulfed in the world that Taylor has built and you won’t want to leave any time soon.As for the story behind the lovely writing, Daughter of Smoke & Bone is about Karou as she is awakened to a secret hidden deep inside of her. The gradual peeling back of the story is so intriguing and presented in a way that allows you to discover right along with the main character, which is something I love as a reader. With the help of her friends (both old and new), Karou realizes that her life may have more meaning to it than she ever could have imaged and her actions now have consequences beyond even her wildest dreams.Speaking of which, YES, there is romance! Swoony and heart melting romance! For example…

“And they were quiet but their blood and nerves and butterflies were not—they were rampantly alive, rushing and thrumming in a wild and perfect melody, matched note for note.” ― Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone

I don’t want to go into too many details about this novel as I feel it is best experienced with as little knowledge as possible going into it. Just prepare yourself for an amazing journey that takes you to lands far and wide, as well as a journey of the heart.